Page 35 of Choose Me

"No."

"How far along are you?"

"Around 30 weeks, I think.”

"When's the last time you felt the baby move?"

"Right now," I answered, my hand instinctively going to my stomach. He pressed a fetal doppler to my stomach, and the baby's heartbeat thumped loudly in a hypnotic cadence. I let out a sigh of relief.

The paramedic smiled at me, "Baby's heart rate sounds great, but I'd like to take you to the hospital to have them check you and the baby out, just to be sure."

"Okay," I said, my eyes fixed on Everett as he leaned against the ambulance, talking on his phone but glancing at me every few seconds. The paramedic buckled me carefully on the stretcher and stepped out to speak with Everett. I realized my hands were empty, my phone was lost somewhere during my escape, and I hadn't even realized I dropped it. Everett stepped into the ambulance and sat on the bench beside me.

"I lost my phone. Can you call James?"

"I just got off the phone with him. He's going to meet us at the hospital. The police found your phone on the stairwell." He handed me my phone; the screen had a fresh crack through it.

The paramedic closed the rig doors and took his position on my other side, writing in his log book and checking the monitor.

The ambulance started driving, and the loud sirens made it difficult to think. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my nerves. Everett reached out and took my hand in his, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand. "You did well, Ava. I am so glad you and the baby are safe."

I nodded weakly, grateful for his touch. The ambulance turned a corner sharply, and I felt the stretcher shift beneath me. The paramedic looked up from his log book, "Sorry about that. Traffic's getting heavier."

"Did they catch him? It was Commons, right?" I nearly shouted, my voice reverberating off the ambulance walls.

"They tracked them to another floor, but it looked like they slipped out a fire escape. Don't worry, we will find them." Everett's voice sounded strained.

"Them? Not him? What aren't you and James telling me?" My eyes burned into his, trying to get the truth.

"Nothing," he said quickly, unable to meet my gaze while fidgeting with his phone.

He never was good at lying.

"You're a terrible liar. Why won't you tell me?"

"We don't know all the facts yet, but when James gets here, he will tell you everything."

"Everett, just tell me what the fuck is going on!"

"Ava, please. I promised him I wouldn't say anything until he got here." He pleaded, begging me not to push further. But I wasn't about to let him off that easy.

"Does this have something to do with him returning to New York?" I pressed on despite his protests.

"Fine." I threw my hands up in exasperation and leaned away from him with an attitude.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, squeezing my leg gently in comfort.

I ignored him, refusing to look or speak to him, and crossed my arms indignantly, turning my head away in silent rebellion for the remainder of the drive.

20

TWENTY

JAMES

"Everett said the ambulance is taking Ava to the hospital to check out her and the baby," I shouted to Brock over the airplane engine roar. "Margaret is in the wind. IT has her face on CCTV leaving in a grey baker's van from behind the building. They are working on tracking her through the city.

Brock nodded, his face serious. We hurried out of the plane and into a blacked-out suburban. I was eager to get to the hospital and make sure they were okay. Traffic was shit, but when we finally arrived at the hospital, I didn't wait for Brock before I rushed inside the emergency room entrance.

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